UMASD board approves creation of new positions

UPPER MERION — Following a lengthy and, at times, heated discussion, the school board for the Upper Merion Area School District approved the creation of teaching positions at two elementary schools in the district.

The positions include two new second grade teachers, one each at Caley and Roberts Elementary School, and a new part-time kindergarten teacher for Roberts.

“These recommendations are not made lightly,” said Superintendent Melissa Jamula, “but the ramification of not creating these positions will result in class sizes at some schools and some levels of 26 or 27 and we think that is too many.”

Michelle Longo, the director of human resources for the district, echoing Jamula’s concerns, stated that the second grade classes at Caley would be at the levels of approximately 26 students per class without an additional teacher. However, with the additional educator, classes would have 20 students.

“The gains that students make as a result of smaller classroom in (lower grade levels) help students not only in those grades but also much farther down the road,” said Vice President David Karen.

The board approved the creation of all three positions by a vote of 7-1, with Ted Walmsley being the lone dissenter. Walmsey expressed concern about the funding for these new positions, as all three were not initially budgeted for when the board approved the budget for the current fiscal year.

“We have a little bit of extra money coming in and it seems like we are quick to spend it,” said Walmsley. “To me, we are in a position of someone who can afford a down payment on a house but may not necessarily be able to afford the mortgage payments on it.”

Currently, the district is funding the new positions based largely on restructuring at the administrative level, as Jane Callaghan, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction was promoted to interim superintendent, replacing the retiring Jamula, while still handling the responsibilities of her current position.

While discussing the creation of those teacher positions, the board also discussed impending space restraints at buildings throughout the district, particularly at the two elementary schools receiving new teachers, which both have now filled every available room with classes.

“We’ve had a steady growth,” said Jamula. “There are tough decisions that lie ahead.”

According to Jamula, those decisions lie largely with how to deal accommodating an ever-increasing student population, both in space and instruction.

“We are dealing now with the potential of 26 or 27 students in first grade,” Jamula said. “Right now, to address that problem, we are faced with the options that are not that pleasant. We may have to have music on a cart.”

Jamula also presented other another likely scenario to deal with the space restrictions in the district.

“There is a computer lab at Roberts, which we could consider (as a classroom),” Jamula said. “If the board would eventually choose that option, we would disband that computer classroom and get Roberts another cart of 30 laptops to use. I believe it’s fair to say that with the exception of maybe Bridgeport, we will be in exactly the same position with the other elementary schools.”

According to School Board President Dennis Morello, several years ago the district looked at a resolution for spacing problems at Caley based on a study done by the state based on the number of live births in the district. Ultimately, no renovations occurred. However, the births that the state studied are now at an age to go to school.

“The fact that we are getting to the point that we are overcrowded and running out of classrooms should not be a surprise,” said Morello. “The need has not gone away. We are still having discussion amongst the board and we invite the public to join in those discussions.”

The school board will hold its next public business meeting on September 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the LGI of the high school.